Just because someone’s the protagonist of a movie doesn’t mean they’re the best part.

Some supporting characters can outperform the lead and steal the show. There’s a reason why we give supporting actors and actresses awards, too, after all.

In fact, in some cases, it’s hard to remember that these supporting characters were meant to support the lead. Instead, they were far too content with winning us over.

Tommy Lee Jones – The Fugitive

Look, Harrison Ford as Dr. Kimbrel is great, but let’s not mince words here: this is Tommy Lee Jones’ movie.

His monologue, where he goes “what I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse, and doghouse in the area,” does an excellent job of getting your adrenaline flowing.

There’s a reason why he’s the lead in the oft-forgotten sequel, U.S. Marshals.

Javier Bardem – No Country for Old Men

From one example of Tommy Lee Jones stealing the show to an example where someone stole the show from him.

Yes, he’s the main character in No Country for Old Men; it’s his narration, after all, and his story. Let’s not mince words here, though. Bardem gives a performance that is so powerful that you have to tip your hat in recognition.

Robin Williams – Aladdin

It feels weird to call any role Robin Williams had as supporting, but it’s a role he’s played well in Hollywood. It even won him an Academy Award for Good Will Hunting.

We’re not talking about that one here, though. When you think of Aladdin, you don’t think of the titular character. You think of Williams’ iconic performance as Genie.

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Val Kilmer – Tombstone

An iconic western with incredible performances for sure, but Kilmer’s the one who makes the movie what it is.

It for sure helps when a script is as strong as it is in Tombstone, but there’s something about Val Kilmer’s performance that elevates things to another level.

Anthony Hopkins – The Silence of the Lambs

It’s hard to believe that Anthony Hopkins only had 16 minutes of visible screen time in The Silence of the Lambs.

He made the most of it, though; Dr. Lecter is one of the most famous characters in cinematic history, and Hopkins used those 16 minutes to the fullest on his way to an Academy Award. Sure, it was for Best Actor, but audiences agree that he was the supporting character and Jodie Foster was the lead.

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

From one iconic villain to another. Ledger had a fair bit more screen time compared to Hopkins, but that shouldn’t discredit the work of either actor.

Ledger would become the second actor to win an Oscar posthumously.

Ana de Armas – No Time To Die

The Bond girl is one of the most important parts of a quintessential James Bond film. They need to be able to stand toe to toe with the titular character, and it’s something de Armas’ Paloma embodies.

Her time in the film is brief, but it’s apparent from the start that she’s different from a typical Bond girl. She’s not here to play second fiddle, but nothing about her performance feels forced or unnatural.

Christopher Walken – Pulp Fiction

Here’s the thing about the “watch” portion of Pulp Fiction: if you completely cut it, the movie is arguably better for it. Sure, we need to understand Butch’s motivations that led him to that iconic scene with Marsellus Wallace, but we could have gotten there another way.

It’s a testament ot Walken’s performance that it’s arguably the best in the movie, despite the one scene in an unnecessary portion of the film.

Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained

I’d make an argument that Waltz’s Hans Landa is more of a main antagonist than a supporting character, but he still deserves some scene-stealing recognition.

Django Unchained‘s Dr. Schultz fits the bill as someone who rightfully supports Jamie Foxx’s Django while still commanding every scene he’s in.

Emily Blunt – The Devil Wears Prada

It would have been easy for Blunt’s character in The Devil Wears Prada to have fallen by the wayside behind Anne Hathaway’s Andy and Meryl Streep’s showstopping performance as Miranda Priestly.

Yet it’s the strength of Blunt’s performance to not only hold her own but often overshadow Hathaway’s performance.

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